A venture set up by SoftBank Group Corp. and partners is holding talks with local governments in Hokkaido on the feasibility of a transmission line project intended to boost wind power capacity.
The venture is considering a freeze on the project, Kyodo News reported without attribution Wednesday. The Hokkaido Shimbun, a local newspaper, carried a similar report. Marubeni Corp., Mitsui & Co. and Hokkaido Electric Power Co. are also taking part in the project, which is supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
The venture is holding talks with officials from 11 local governments this week and plans to announce a decision next week, said Kenichi Yuasa, a spokesman for SoftBank.
SoftBank's clean-energy unit has been considering 600 megawatts of wind capacity in the region along the northwestern coast, Yuasa said.